8-year olds the worst culprits as freemium games cost parents £30m

Is it worth £30m to shut them up?

British parents are forking out an average of £34 as a result of accidental in-app purchases made by children using their smartphones and tablets, research from Microsoft has claimed.

The study from Windows Phone UK found that parents across the nation have ended up forking out a total of £30m as kids unlock levels, or buy coins or obtain other in-game items without their permission.

According to the research, over a quarter of parents with smart devices have been caught out, while 80 per cent of those have seen higher bills as a result.